Photos: Man Utd 3-0 Newcastle – Scholes Majestic, Rooney MIA

Not the most convincing performance by Man Utd, but it would seem churlish to pick too many holes in a 3-0 win. However, when you look at how Chelsea demolished another promoted team on Saturday, you can only conclude that once again, Chelsea have the edge over Fergie’s lot. And a clear edge.

Paul Scholes was magic, as he was in the Community Shield, but can he keep it up? With Waye Rooney in the doldrums, it’s up to legends like Scholes and Giggs to drive the team on, though the improved form of Dimitar Berbatov – who looks really up for it in a United shirt, at last – is a clear bonus.

Newcastle had their chances in the first half, when Andy Carroll should have put them ahead but he fluffed his header. In the second half though, they were outclassed. So, those taches stay for now.

11Comments

Not entirely sure I agree that Chelsea have an edge, certainly not a clear edge. Chelsea won the league by 1 point last season and without Carvalho and Ballack, they’re probably worse where as United are definitely stronger.

Chelsea rolled over a team who finish bottom of the league every time they’re in the Premier League, hardly a marker. Newcastle have a solid, experienced midfield of battlers and defended deep, yet still conceded 3 at a canter (much like this same Chelsea did one week earlier) so I’m not really getting your point.

Last night was convincing, it was absolute control bar that one headed chance by Carroll, and that’s with Rooney sucking ass and Nani still making the wrong decisions 9 times out of 10.

Clear edge? The same clear edge that saw them get beaten 3-1 a week ago? And don’t tell me it was just a glorified friendly, it was much more competitive than either of these two matches, so I think it was a fairer reflection of where the teams stand. What I saw was Chelsea at the top of their game beating a ridiculously poor West Brom with Drogba firing on all cilinders and a United not needing to get out of first gear against a spirited, and, let’s be honest, much more competitive side with their main goal threat and all round best player having a stinker. So, I don’t really see how a difference in three goals is proof of this clear gap, especially given that a few of Chelsea’s goals were flukey at best and that United were unlucky not to notch up an extra two or even maybe three.

Not the most convincing performance? Been a long time since I’ve seen 4-4-2 played that well by anyone, the movement and understanding between the front four was brilliant, Rooney included. Fletcher and Scholes were a superb partnership, it’s just that Newcastle actually played quite well in the first part of the match (unlike West Brom) that makes Chelsea’s performance seem comparatively superior.

Tom, give it a rest, Chelsea are clearly miles ahead of everyone else because they have the title winning ability of thrashing a team against whom one E. Ivanhoe Heskey would score on the first day of the season. United fans better stop chipping in for the next 12m Madrid bound transfer target on account of the club having no money after splurging a healthy 25m £ on a trifecta of Smalling/Hernandez/Bebe, or it’s Championship football for them next season.

The team speed by newcastle was appalling. They were easily picked apart by scholes, and i think its fair to say that nothing can be read into the scorelines of this or the chelsea game. The same people who talk this up are bashing city for getting a point at WHL, a good result as we got crushed there 6 months ago